Find Ancestors

Top tip - using the Genes Reunited community

Welcome to the Genes Reunited community boards!

  • The Genes Reunited community is made up of millions of people with similar interests. Discover your family history and make life long friends along the way.
  • You will find a close knit but welcoming group of keen genealogists all prepared to offer advice and help to new members.
  • And it's not all serious business. The boards are often a place to relax and be entertained by all kinds of subjects.
  • The Genes community will go out of their way to help you, so don’t be shy about asking for help.

Quick Search

Single word search

Icons

  • New posts
  • No new posts
  • Thread closed
  • Stickied, new posts
  • Stickied, no new posts

Christmas Day Weddings

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date
Marked As Answer Marked as Answered

Yvonne

Yvonne Report 13 Feb 2018 23:37

Does anyone know why there were weddings on Christmas Day? I've found quite a few in my family.

Thanks.

+++DetEcTive+++

+++DetEcTive+++ Report 13 Feb 2018 23:46

In many instances, it was a guaranteed day off work.

Andrew

Andrew Report 13 Feb 2018 23:54

It was a day off work. No paid holidays back then. The poor old clergy had some very busy Christmas days. I've seen up to ten marriages on Dec 25th.

Andy

KathleenBell

KathleenBell Report 14 Feb 2018 00:25

I'm not sure but I seem to remember reading somewhere that marriages on Christmas Day were free of charge especially in large cities and therefore quite popular. I think baptisms were also free on Christmas Day.

Kath. x

SylviaInCanada

SylviaInCanada Report 14 Feb 2018 00:47

It was often the only day that a servant would have off.


The other thing that you might have noticed if you look at different marriages on the same page of a Parish Register ....... the same name(s) will occur time and time again.

These were known as Professional Witnesses .............. members of the church (eg, the Sexton), who were paid a small amount to act as witness to the marriage.

Most people who got married found that their friends or relatives could not get the same day off, so the bride and groom would walk alone to the church, and then pay the Professional Witnesses.


Several of my family walked from Oldham to Prestwich up until about 1850, probably about 10 or 11 (edited to correct from 1 mile!) miles, because the church in Prestwich was the Parish Church for Oldham. A new Parish Church was built in Oldham around 1820/1830 .......... but many people wanted to get married in the "real" church!

Their friends or relations never seem to have been able to accompany them, as the Register shows Professional Witnesses.

As a side note .............. that church in Prestwich is the one that has often been used as the site for weddings on Coronation Street :-D

Yvonne

Yvonne Report 14 Feb 2018 00:51

An interesting concept Kathleen, so I just Googled it. Most of the reasons given were as stated by Detective and Andy, but apparently it was the custom in London because it was free. Full marks to you all and thanks.

Yvonne

Yvonne

Yvonne Report 14 Feb 2018 01:18

Thanks Sylvia
I've heard that one before about Professional Witnesses but couldn't understand why, now I get it.
Sorry, not a Coronation Street fan.

SylviaInCanada

SylviaInCanada Report 14 Feb 2018 04:56

Yvonne ................. neither am I a fan!!

It was just a little note that I picked up when looking for a photograph of the church where so many of my direct ancestors got married!

Yvonne

Yvonne Report 15 Feb 2018 16:36

Thanks Sylvia.

Yvonne

Yvonne Report 15 Feb 2018 16:36

Thanks Sylvia.